Shampoo composition



Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HOFFMAN KOBBE, OF NEW YORK,I\T. Y., ASSIGNOR TO TEXAS GULF SUI-]?HUR COMPANY, OF BAY CITY, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS.

SHAMPOO COMPOSITION.

No Drawing. Application filed April 3.

This invention relates to shampoo compositions and has for its objectthe provision of an improved shampoo composition.

Many oils are well known to possess certain advantages in the treatmentof various skin diseases, and particularly diseases of the scalp. Oilswhich may be advantageously employed for this purpose are ol1ve oil,cocoanut oil, crude oil, tar oil, and pine oil, and other vegetable andanimal oils.

The beneficial effect-s of sulfur alone when used in treating suchdiseases are also recognized. It is difficult, however, to apply sulfurto the scalp in an effective manner be cause in order to be reallyeffective the sulfur should be so applied that it can be readilyabsorbed within the pores of the skin. The efficacy of ordinary sulfuris impaired by the reason that it is itself not readily absorbed ordissolved by the moisture of the skin; and there are few solvents ofsulfur that are not objectionable either because they will not dissolveasufiicient amount of sulfur, or because they themselves have adetrimental effect upon the skin which more than ofisets the beneficialadvantage of the sulfur. When, however, sulfur in colloidal condition isemployed, it penetrates and is readily absorbed by the pores, and by theappropriate preparation of colloidal sulfur a means is afforded forreadily increasing the sulfur content of the skin. By treating the scalpwith colloidal sulfur it is possible to increase the penetration of thesulfur into the scalp by several thousand per cent as compared with thepenetration of ordinary powdered sulfur.

I have discovered that an extremely effective shampoo composition can bemade by mixing sulfur with an oil such as above referred to in suchmanner that the advantageous effects of colloidal sulfur and theinherent beneficial properties of the oil itself are preserved.

In preparing my improved shampoo composition, a quantity of refined andfinely powdered sulfur is introduced into a quantity of oil, such, forexample, as olive oil. These are Well mixed together and allowed tostand for approximately three hours. At ordinary temperatures somewhatover 2% by weight of sulfur is brought into solution in a stablecondition with the oil, that is, into true solution therewith. Theexcess sulfur is then allowed to settle and the clear 1924. Serial No.703,977.

liquidabove is decanted. Hereinafter this combination of sulfur in oilis referred to as a solution of sulfur in oil, or simply as thesolution.

In employing the oil-sulfur solution as a shampoo composition, the hairis first well saturated with it. Then soap and water are added and thevarious constituents intimately mixed by rubbing in the usual manner soas to form a lather. This process emulsifies the constituents. Water,not being a solvent of sulfur acts as a diluentof the oil and somodifies its ability to hold the sulfur in solution that at least aportion of the sulfur is immediately precipitated as a very fine whitecolloid. I have found that the soap acts as a stabilizer, protector, ordispersing agent for the colloidal sulfur thus formed. Hence, the sulfurremains in colloidal condition while it is being distributed by therubbing action throughout the whole mass of hair and in this conditionpenetrates the pores and the epidermis itself throughout every portionof the scalp. Under these conditions the sulfur is readily absorbed bythe scalp. Moreover, the presence of the protective colloid in the formof soap gives sufiicient stability to the colloidal solution of thesulfur so that it is not readily removed by the subsequent washing ofthe scalp, but remains in the pores, not only for relatively longperiods of time, but also in an ideal condition to make itphysiologically effective.

In order to determine the action. of the soap as a stabilizer orprotector for the colloidal sulfur, I emulsified 20 guns. of thesulfur-olive-oil solution above described in a hot solution of 2 guns.of castile soap in 100 gms. of water, and then examined under theultramicroscope the warm fluid beneath the surface layer. Pure. oliveoil was also examined in the same way. This comparison showed that theemulsified fluid containing sulfur was very much richer in ultramicronsthan the pure olive oil, indicating that after the addition of the soapsolution the sulfur is in true colloidal state. I believe that when thesulfurized oil is used in asoap shampoo, the sulfur is thrown out in thecolloidal state, and should remain in this for immediate use without theseparate addition of soap, I ma add to the 2% sulfuroil solution aboveescribed a quantity of soap, preferably in the form of tincture,

' ture of green soap, is added to the sulfur-oil solution, the sulfur isnot precipitated from the solution in colloidal condition even afterthorough shaking of the container. These two constituents have atendency to separate from one another, and even after thorough shakingthe sulfur-oil solution will tend to rise to the surface of the soap.Such a shampoo must be shaken thoroughly prior to its application to thescalp. It is entirely practical, however, by proper manipulation, to mixthese constituents so as to form a shampoo composition having a creamyconsistency throughout, but in which, however, the sulfur will stillremain in solution in the oil. Such a consistency is to be preferred, asit is somewhat more convenient to use.

When the constituents of either of these complete compositions justmentioned are emulsified by the thorough and intimate mixing and rubbingprocess upon the scalp with water, however, the sulfur is precipitatedin colloidal condition by the water and this condition is renderedstable by the presence of the soap. The sulfur is thus applied to thescalp in colloidal condition as before, and the same beneficialadvantages to the scalp are to be found as with the plain sulfur-oilsolution, with the added advantage that these forms of the improvedshampoo composition are more convenient to use.

It was mentioned above that at ordinary temperatures oil, such as oliveoil, will dissolve somewhat over 2% by weight of finely divided sulfur.Thus, at 15 C. I have found that 100 guns. of pure olive oil willdissolve approximately 2.2 gms. of sulfur. At higher temperatures, theoil will dissolve very much greater uantities of sulfur. For example, at130 I have found that 100 gins. of pure olive oil will dissolve as muchas 30 gms. of sulfur. At intermediate temperatures corresponding amountsof sulfur are soluble in the oil. However, when a saturated, orsuper-saturated solution is made in this manner, the excess sulfurreprecipitates in solid form when the solution is cooled. Nevertheless,if it is desired to treat the scalp with an excess amount of sulfur,

a warm saturated sulfur-oil solution may be employed to advantagewhereby a relatively large amount of sulfur in colloidal condition maybe applied to the scalp. The method of application in this instance isthe same as above described except for the fact that the sulfur-oilshampoo is applied warm, say, for exanple, ata temperature of about 50or In order to illustrate the method of carry ing out the invention, thefollowing specific examples are given:

Example N0. 1.--To 500 gms. of pure olive oil at a temperature of 15(3., a relatively large quantity (about 100 gms.) of pure refined andfinely powdered sulfur are added The sulfur and oil are intimately mixedby mechanical stirring for about two minutes. After this, the mixture isallowed to stand for about three hours. At the end of this time theexcess of sulfur will have settled to the bottom of the container leav'ing a clear or relatively clear sulfur-oil solution above it. Thissolution is then decanted and bottled ready for use.

Example N0. 2.To 100 cc. of the solution prepared as described inexample No. 1, about 15 cc. of tincture of green soa containing 33%alcohol are added. ThlS constitutes a liquid shampoo com osition whichis ready for immediate use wit out the addition of soap.

My invention brings about the formation of colloidal sulfur from asolution of sulfur at the time and place of use of the improvedcomposition as a shampoo, the reason for this procedure being thatsulfur in the colloidal state is unstable, and it is diflicult tomaintain it in this state without the use of protective colloids thatare unfitted to use on the scalp and which furthermore are uncertain intheir stabilizing properties.

I claim 1. A liquid shampoo composition comprising a solution of sulfurin oil and a suflicient amount of soap to assist the emulsification ofthe oil and precipitation of sulfur 'in colloidal condition upon theaddition of water thereto.

2. A liquid shampoo composition comprising oil, sulfur, and soap.

8. A liquid shampoo composition comprising oil havingapproximately 2% byweight of sulfur dissolved therein, and containing soap.

4. A liquid shampoo composition comprising oil containing approximately2% by weight of sulfur in solution therein, and from 10 to 50% by volumeof tincture of soap.

5. A liquid shampoo composition comprising olive oil containingapproximately 2% by weight of sulfur in solution therein, and from 10 to50% by volume of tincture of green soap.

6. A liquid shampoo composition comprising a true solution of sulfur inoil and adapted when rubbed into the scalp in the presence of water toprecipitate said sulfur in colloidal form.

7. A liquid shampoo composition comprising a true solution of sulfur inolive oil and adapted when rubbed into the scalp in the presence ofwater to precipitate said sulfur in colloidal form.

8. A liquid shampoo composition compris-

